What to do after hitting your head in a slip-and-fall accident

On Behalf of | Feb 17, 2022 | Uncategorized |

The sudden death of “America’s Dad,” actor Bob Saget, was made even more startling by the news that he died from complications of a head injury.

Autopsy reports indicate that the actor suffered “an unwitnessed fall backward” that left him with serious skull fractures, traumatic brain injuries and a subdural hematoma (blood buildup on the brain). His tragic death has sparked renewed conversation about the seriousness of head injuries after what may seem like a simple slip-and-fall accident.

More than 61,000 people in this country die from brain injuries every year

Often, the victim of a slip-and-fall accident immediately knows they are hurt. They can feel the damage to their broken bones right away, whether that’s in an arm, a hip or a leg.

Head injuries, however, can be deceptive. A mere “bump on the head,” however hard, can be dismissed as “nothing serious” while the victim tries to go about their life. Meanwhile, intracranial bleeding can start, subdural hematomas can build up, and serious brain trauma can continue to develop due to swelling and other complications. As seen with Bob Saget, a head injury can even turn fatal.

What can you do if you have a head injury after a fall to protect yourself from a similar fate? First, seek medical help. Don’t brush it off or decide to wait until the next day if you still don’t feel right. Early intervention may save your life.

Second, make sure that you have adequate supervision and rest. If you have a head injury, you may need to take it very easy for a few days – and you shouldn’t be alone while you’re convalescing.

If you were injured in a slip-and-fall accident caused by a property owner’s negligence, you have a right to compensation for the time you lost from work, your medical bills and other losses.